I think I'm a part of the first generation of journalists to skip print media entirely, and I've learned a lot these last few years at Forbes. My work has appeared on TVOvermind, IGN, and most importantly, a segment on The Colbert Report at one point. Feel free to follow me on Twitter or on Facebook, write me on Facebook or just email at paultassi(at)gmail(dot)com. I'm also almost finished with my sci-fi novel series, The Earthborn Trilogy.

Did the Real Mass Effect 3 Ending Go Over Everyone's Heads?

Mass Effect 3 has been derided since its release as having an unsatisfying and spectacularly bad finale that has disappointed fans of the otherwise phenomenal series. But now a new conspiracy theory is circling the internet, and if proven true, could mean that this terrible ending is actually pretty incredible, and we were all just too blind to see it.

The “proof” comes in the form of a collection of internet postings and a new definitive “Loose Change” style video which aims to show how we’ve all missed the point. I’ll post it for you below, and though it clocks in at twenty minutes, if you’re a fan, it’s definitely a must watch.

I won’t summarize it in full (obvious spoilers ahoy), but the general idea is that in reality, the entire ending sequence is occurring in your character’s mind. The bad guys of the series, the Reapers, are attempting to “indoctrinate” Commander Shepard, a process they use to seduce powerful figures into helping their cause, and the final choice you make is either you accepting or resisting their influence.

The details are small at first, but they start to snowball, and by the end, the theory doesn’t sound so crazy anymore. It explains many aspects of the game that are otherwise out of place. Shepard’s visions of a lost child, the fact that he winds up with an injury he supposedly inflicted on another, the two second sequence that shows him stirring in earthbound rubble at the end. And a fact not mentioned in the video, that your last save in the game allows you replay the alleged dream sequence if you made the “wrong” choice from the exact moment reality supposedly ends.

And I did in fact make the “wrong” choice according to this, and I was disturbed when I realized that two of the three options, controlling the Reapers and combining organic and synthetic life, were also the aims of the indoctrinated Illusive Man and Saren respectively. Uh oh.

What is not made clear in this theory, or the video, is what the scenes mean AFTER the decision is made. As discussed before, they all more or less show variants of the same scene, giving little or unclear resolution to Shepard’s actions. This is the sequence that upset people the most, and the video explains it away as “hopeful visions,” but that’s not exactly satisfying either.

It is also entirely plausible that the ending is not metaphorical at all. That everything happened the way we thought it did and Bioware really did drop the ball. But further evidence against this straightforward view is that Bioware has not screwed up the story up until this point, and the “indoctrination theory” being true would prove they’re smarter than all of us.

But the fact is, true or not, the indoctrination theory is a win for Bioware. Even if it’s not what they intended, enough pieces are there where if they came out and said it was true, people would believe them. They now have a way out, as they can now appropriate the theory as something they planned all along, even if that wasn’t the case.

If it really was what they had in mind, it would be a master storytelling move viewed from one angle, as it’s a huge mind-bending twist for players that was too high concept for almost everyone who played. But when you stop and consider it, the decision to handle such a twist the way they did would remain creatively atrocious. I’ve recently speculated that the “sameness” of the endings is really a plot to sell more DLC, as if there were three different, complete endings, that wouldn’t be in the cards. The fact is, even if the last sequence is the indoctrination process, it’s still a gut punch to fans to cut out a true ending, and sell it later as DLC, which I now believe has been their intention all along.

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Yes, I do wonder the same thing. Is ‘Take Back Mass Effect 3′ simply a PR stunt by Bioware. If they knew customers were going to get angry, was the whole this intentional; and if so how will customers react to getting used?

I wonder what your thoughts are on two more points: what if the DLC was free? Would that change your mind about it? (Not that I’m saying it should, I really just wonder how you feel about it) Second, what about people that don’t have Internet connectivity in their homes? I know we all think of that as pretty much nonexistant, but I work with three guys who each have a current-gen console and no Internet connection. I think that if the plan was to have ending DLC all along, that would be a real slap in the face to the unconnected. One other thing I was pondering: remember when Bioshock 2 had DLC, but it was already on the disc (you just had to buy a small file that unlocked it)? What if the real ending of ME3 is on the disc, and has been all along? If the Indoctrination Theory were really true, that would make things kinda interesting.

As you point out Bioware mentions the possibility for “full games”, this is nothing new. They have said before that Mass Effect 3 was going to be the end of the Shepard saga, but not the end of the Mass Effect universe. With that in mind I view the three endings with similar outcomes as setting the ground work for future games. If the endings had been wildly different from each-other games couldn’t be set in the future and the detailed nature of the game limits games set in the past. If the indoctrination theory is correct that would mean the full games would be someone else taking up the fight against the reapers, while the ending of the game allows a setting of every species in the galaxy forced to co-exist on an Earth in ruins or within the Sol system without the mass relays. I guess the truth lies in whether people want to continue fighting the reapers or develop a new struggle.

I’m glad to see an outlet like Forbes pick up on this…I’ve been saying this since last week when I beat the game. A part of me thinks that this group of creative minds, which not only built three excellent games, but a whole entire mythos of every alien race, every power, every planet could not have designed such a cop-out ending with so many plot holes and questions left unanswered…

My original thought was that there would be a finale DLC whenever the game was 100% released globally so everyone could reach the end at the same time instead of staggered where other markets could have it spoiled before they even had a chance to play it….even if that’s the case, Bioware has utterly failed in viral marketing and teasing and makes it more and more look like they had an idea which they thought was good and ended up backfiring….this is coming from the same group who virally launhced early editions of the game into the high parts of the atmosphere on weather balloons…

I think a lot of fans are giving them the benefit of a doubt and to see their explanation at their discussion panel at the PAX east in April. I think there we will get a better idea of where they are going to run with this.

Even if the indoctrination theory is a complete fluke…the fans have literally given Bioware an out to salvage the series and be made out to be brilliant minds…maybe we are giving them too much credit but if it’s a way to save face and to keep future sales of your products in tact, what’s the hurt of another month or two of giving the consumer what they want?

It’s also troubling to me that a part of me feels like Bioware intentionally left out the true ending in order to charge people for it later, knowing that they have a dedicated and loyal fan base who will be willing to shill out extra $ for resolution. To me, that’s just taking advantage of people and is just low, and if it is the case, I’m not trusting Bioware on any more games if they are just going to release incomplete ones.

As I’ve said, I understand that future DLC’s create employment for those developers, but so does repeat business…hopefully it’s all an elaborate ruse and not the faceplant it’s being made out to be.

I too want to believe in ‘Indoctrination Theory.’ Even if Bioware did not intend it, I think that it would be wise for them to create their add-on as if they did. Frankly I think it is the only way to maintain the integrity of the game. If they simply cut out the junk and replace it, it will still feel empty and disappointing.

“We will not support or respond to destructive commentary,” means that they will eventually ignore the people.

They know that gamers will continue to buy their product as long as the mass effect and bioware name is on the cover. The people will fail and they will get their way. That is what has become of our society, we as a people have become weak, we have allowed others in a higher position to regulate the disposition of our conduct openly. They are now comfortably corrupt, because we have allowed them to become so. Before, no institution nor agency would dare to openly insult the population, they at least, maintained an ounce of secrecy, and you…the people could convince yourself then to accept their lie, however, now they are spiting in the face of the people. Will you allow it, allow this corruption to spread like a virus through the levels of business until it too bleeds into our government? Will you sit down and continue along this path until your grandchildren would one day ask of you the legend of the free foundation that this country was built upon? Or will you choose to walk against these treasonous, bloodsucking, ravenous vampires and take a stand.

We can no longer hide my friends, we can no longer look away…they are like children who have gotten used to the luxuries and freedom of this fast paced media frenzy…they have diluted our sense of what is important with deceptive fragments of what they call “News” and have now taken advantage of our inability to maintain public interest – they can do as they please because we will all be more interested in the dog who saved his owners life on CHxxx at 7:00. Does anyone remember the Mass Effect 2 complaint about the words being unreadable on non-HD compatible television sets? What did they eventually do after their initial false pretenses to qualm the anger of buyers? Populate false rumors of a DLC for allowing the game to be more compatible with traditional television sets. And soon after the fires were calmed they released a statement, inconspicuously, that “the game was made for HDTV sets, and that was the quality that they decided to adhere to,” because they felt that most American households should own a HD set. This is the same deal, the company is basically saying “Hey guys, we’ll listen to you…but if your rude to us you can fucking forget it because this is a sympathy gesture” and you the people reply back, “Just shut up and take my money.”

Either live with your knowledge now and accept the corruption of these bloodsucking capitalists or take a stand for the rights that were guaranteed to your person the moment you were conceived and drive these heathen back into their cages.

Destructive comments would be similar to asking them to rewrite the ending when they claim it doesn’t make sense or whatever. Most of those I’ve read wanted some kind of happy ending or even just something that was familiar to them. For example, a traditional Hollywood style ending.

If some managed to figure out why it doesn’t make sense, then it’s not a software issue, but rather an issue with the user.

Thing is though, a lot of people thought that the last 5 minutes was the ending of the game. However, according to what was said before the game launched they said “as Mass Effect 3 is the end” of the trilogy…

So if you take Mass Effect 3 (the whole game) as the ending instead of the last 5 minutes, then most of these claims of “ending looks the same” or everyone gets the same exact ending can be refuted.

I am a huge Mass Effect fan and have read ever y comment on this board. There are a lot of really good thoughts out there, so I thought I would add my own as well. First, great article.

*******SPOILER AHEAD!!!***********

Bioware released an unfinished game! If Shepard was indoctrinated, we ONLY see what happens in his/her mind. “Control” and “Synthesis” both result in the death of the Commander, but it’s not what really happened. What happened to the war effort? Humanity? Earth? And Galactic Civilization? We don’t know, they don’t show us! Only at the end of “Destroying the Reapers,” with a high enough Galactic Readiness score do we see Shepard wake up under some rubble. Once Shepard wakes up, we still don’t see what happens after that. Again, they don’t show us! No matter what you choose, indoctrinated or not, sacrifice or not, we never truly see the ending of the game or the resolution of the conflict with the Reapers!

My other complaint is that it ruined the playing experience of choices and a changing interactive story line. I made certain choices in ME1 to leading into ME2. Then I made certain choices in ME2 to lead into ME3 (or the DLC Mass Effect:Genesis by Dark Horse Comics). Then I made certain choices in ME3 so I could see a certain ending, and what do I get? A ghost kid giving me 3 choices, 2 of which involve suicide! That’s it?! They should have had another sequence or two after that involving an indoctrinated Shepard destroying the citadel with the help of the Illusive Man and controlling the Reapers(Ultimate doom/Renegade), or being awakened by Admiral Anderson, gathering his team, and turning to fight Harbinger then detonating The Crucible and destroying the Reapers (Hero/Paragon). Either way, terrible ending or holding it hostage? Rushed or not? A ploy to sell more DLC? Doesn’t matter! Bioware should have done a better job on it, and they need to make it right!

Other than the ending, the game is outstanding and deserves high praise!